Wooden boat recovery/restoration

[xbonnie]

I am new to this forum and have never attempted any type of restoration, but my husband and I found an old wooden boat when we were scuba diving and are discussing the possibility of recovering and restoring it. We are currently investigating salvage laws in our area. We also have a few questions that we could use some expert advice on.
First of all, is it even worth the effort? The boat is partially buried in silt in cold, fresh water. It has obviously been there a while, but appears to be in pretty good shape. I know that artifacts that have been submerged for a long time require special treatment. If we are able to get it out, is there anything we need to know about how to preserve it until it can be restored?
Second, a plate on the dash says "Distin Boats Saranac Lake, NY". We haven't been able to find out anything about this manufacturer. Has anyone here heard of them?
I'm sure we will have more questions as our project continues (if it continues). I appreciate any advice anyone has to offer.
Bonnie

[goolawah]

Roughly how big is it?
Can you tell if it is made of plywood, or planks?
Has it got an engine?
Any way of guessing how long it has been there?

[xbonnie]

It appears to be about 22' long. Not sure if it's plywood or planks (how do you tell?) It's pretty deep in the silt, so we don't know about the motor. We're guessing it's been there 30-40 years. Neither of us knows much about boats, we are primarily divers. We just found this and thought it would be a fun and challenging project, even if we just dig it out and leave it as a wreck for divers to visit.

[Texas Boater]

The boat may turn out to be non-salvagable (why did the original owners let it sink?) but it sure sounds like a heck of an adventure pulling her up to the surface!

[goolawah]

It's obviously hard to tell anything about it when sunk so deep in the mud. If it's plywood I would think it is probably unrecoverable after that time as the ply is probably well and truly delaminated.

In this (plywood) example, http://www.profitworks.com.au/wooden%20boats/#Cinderella the boat had been on a mooring, not completely sunk, and we eventually had to abandon it. However, we wouldn't have missed the experience over 3 years or so.

Either way, it would be a huge task and only worth it if the boat was of a quality that could be restored to the status of a real treasure. It would take years of expense, mess, frustration and learning new skills.

The diving wreck might be the most sensible approach. :)

[Jimbo538]

Hi I'm currently restoring a 17' ply yacht. My boat was out of the water for some years and the decks still de-laminated due to rainwater. I would suggest after so long under water she's probably un-saveable. You're welcome to visit my site at http://www.re-buildingthedewdrop.blogspot.com/
Rgds., Jim.

[goolawah]

Here's a link to some pics of our Robert Tucker Ballerina II
http://www.profitworks.com.au/wooden%20boats/#Cinderella

[CaptScot]

It could well turn out to be a unique mahogany type racing boat take sank long ago and forgotten by most. I did read a story in Classic Boating Magazine a while back were such a boat was found and recovered. If anything the boat itself, piece by piece, could be used as a pattern to build a new boat. This is being done for many old runabouts left out to the weather for many years, that are unique, but too rotted to restore. research that name. There are many runabout enthusiasts who know their hobby well. Try contacting the Antique & Classic Boat Society and also the antique boat museum in Clayton, New York. Their boat show is held in August and is the biggest in the US for runabouts and famous wood race boats of the past that show up. Good luck. Scott J.

[Joe6]

As far as the salvage goes you could probably keep the boat if you can get it. I think the biggest problem with the salvage would be getting permission to bring in the nessesary gear due to environmental issues, though equipment would be minimal for a 22' boat.

Is the boat worth restoring?
I believe there are three reasons to restore an old boat.
1. You absolutely love it and can't live without it. I think this is the best!!!
2. It has historical significance. Lot's of historical significance if sunk!
3. Pedigree famous designer or builder. Preferably both.

Do you and/or your husband have above average woodworking skills?

The reason I ask is it's one thing to maintain a wooden boat that's floating but raising one from the bottom of a lake and restoring it is a completely different ballgame. But it can be done with a little patience and a lot of money.

I found two refrences to these boats on the internet but no pictures or history.

Good luck! Whatever your decision.

Joe

[xbonnie]

Thank you all for the replys. We have gotten the boat out of the mud, although she's still on the bottom of the lake. We have moved her to a more protected area and are hoping to get her out soon. We're pretty sure she is a mahogany runabout - about 16 feet long. The engine is Gray Marine and it is intact, as is the prop shaft, etc. There is one small hole in the port side, about the size of a golf ball, and the bow is pretty rotten (though still intact). Otherwise, she appears to be in fairly good condition. Our assumption is that she was taking on water and then got swamped in foul weather, as we found the windshield broken on the front seat. We have never done any real woodworking or restoration, but after about 50 dives on her we've become attatched and would like to try to keep her. Do we need to keep her wet when she's removed from the water? Are there any issues with the wood cracking as she dries that we need to be concerned about?

[CaptScot]

Hello Bonnie,

Since it is 16 ft mahogany runabout I am curious as to the sitting arrangement. If it turns out to be a two seater with a cockpit at the rear and a split-glass windshield then this boat would be one of the limited number of Garwood 16ft Speedster's. I did hear where some of them were sunk and lost. Several more have since been built over the years by other builders by taking lines off an original yet the copies themselves are valuable. An original speedster though would be priceless. I don't know what engines were used in the speedster, but it was a single engined boat. Any Speedster fans would know more.

Fair Winds, Scott

[xbonnie]

No such luck. The cockpit is in front of the motor and the boat was built by Distin. I'm attatching some fuzzy underwater photos.
Hope we'll have some soon that are not so blue!
Regards,
Bonnie
9667 9668

[EastGateCustoms]

Good evening.. How did you make out with the recovery of the speed boat?? any new details? If you could, send me some pictures. Would like to see the rest of it, looks sleek.
til then
Michael

[rayk]

Is this thread the introduction for a Clive Cussler novel....?

[longliner45]

looks like crisecraft ot garr,,,,,,what is it,,looks like mahogony plywood

[xbonnie]

The recovery turned out to be quite the adventure! We were able to get her up with six 1000# lift bags, but she almost got us a couple of times. By the time we got the mud out she floated on her own. The foredeck is pretty rotten, but the engine and the remainder of the wood appear sound. It is mahogany plywood, but appears fairly well preserved by the silt. We're taking a break for the winter and letting her dry out. We hope to know more in the spring. Here's a picture of her at the dock.
Thanks for all your responses,
Bonnie

[EastGateCustoms]

Congratulations Bonnie.
Looks like a very smooth design.Get a fresh motor in her and enjoy it.
And by the way. It is funny you mention she floated on her own... I once had a 42' Post that was all wood.
I was chartering her for a while with everyone questioning why I would use such an old boat, and wood non the less.
My reply is always simple. After explaining the story that I had to rescue one of the half sunk plastic fantastics one year near our canyons ...
Hey, wood floats!
Thank you for your great story.

[Pete Dennison]

Good one ryak!! I thought the Black Caps were a sunken ship too - but big result yesterday!!:)

[crosbyboat]

I looked at the photo of the sunk boat. It is definately a Distin made in Saranac Lake, NY for only a couple of years in the late 1940's to 1951, and VERY rare! The steering wheel is a give away. Look at it cafefully. It is a half wheel that looks like an airplane wheel. Distin wheels were all like that! An article on Distin boats is in the October 2007 Adirondack Life Magazine. The author is trying to find one. He knows of only 1, possibly 2, in existence. Please feel free to call me at 518-669-2361 to discuss. This boat is worth trying to save!

Brian Lawson, aka crosbyboat

[hansp77]

What great news from crosyboat,
Good on you Bonnie, for taking the gamble and effort of raising her.

Can't wait for the updates.
She's a pretty boat.

[RHP]

To state the obvious... (and how we hate the truth...) that is a labour of love. What is her value restored against what she's going to cost to restore the hull, systems and replace the egine? Ouch. If you love her proceed, if you dont.... run, run for the hills. Good luck, whichever way you decide.

[w4uze]

Bonnie, that is definitely a Distin. As Brian (Crosbyboat) stated the steering wheel is a dead giveaway, you'll also notice the throttle in the center of the steering wheel.
Brian, a gentleman emailed me last year because he heard I owned a Distin boat, he was doing research for an article he was writing, maybe the same author of that 2007 Adirondack Life Magazine.
Mine is in New Hampshire and need of moderate restoration. I have had contact from another Distin boat owner, his Distin is also in New Hampshire and has had a restoration job. I'll try to attach a photograph of his restored boat it's a very nice looking example.

Dan

[xbonnie]

It is definitely a labor of love. We don't expect to sell her, just to have a cool story to tell. We got the top decks torn off and partially replaced this summer. We've decided to paint the sides rather than try to completely restore them. It will allow us to use epoxy to patch her instead of totally replacing the wood. We will replace and varnish the top decks and get everything else as close to original as possible; but we are not trying to make her a show boat. We expect this to take us about 3-4 years. We have a lot to learn and want to take our time. Plus, we are primarily scuba divers - boat restoration just came along as a happy coincidence. Thank you all for your advice!

[charmc]

Good way to approach a restoration. You might change your mind and do more once you get into it ... or not. You've earned the right to do it your way. Congratulations on raising her and what you've done so far. Great story.

[frmarks22]

In the Oct. 2007 issue of Adirondack Life magazine there was an article about Distin Boats, which were built in the Saranac Lake, NY area, which you might find interesting. I found a bow light casting at the Antique Boat Museum Show in Clayton, NY a couple years ago and bought it. Now I know what boat it came from. It is for sale. I have also noted that Chris Wansley is looking for his grandfather's Distin. You may be able to contact him at: xxxhotster@gmail.com. Also, a gentleman named Daniel Manteuffel in Rochester, New Hampshire owns a Distin that I ran across somewhere on the internet but can't find now.

I hope you can find some interesting facts from these guys!